The Moment Michael Weatherly Realized He and His ‘NCIS’ Co-Stars Were ‘Bound Together’

Today, Michael Weatherly leads the hit CBS series Bull. Despite the show’s success, the actor remains intimately connected to Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo of NCIS. Weatherly departed NCIS in 2016, leaving behind the series that helped boost his career, turning the actor into a household name while laying the foundation for his current role. 

Michael Weatherly starred across from Mark Harmon, Cote de Pablo, Pauley Perrette, and Sean Murray for seasons on end. His character brought a humorous unpredictability to the series. From DiNozzo’s slow-boiling romance with David to his mentor-mentee dynamic with Gibbs, the character was an integral piece of the puzzle. The chemistry between him and his fellow co-stars was palpable. The trust between them behind-the-scenes likely had a great impact on the success in front of the camera.

During an interview with AssignmentX, when NCIS was celebrating its 200th episode, Michael Weatherly discussed the series. He noted Mark Harmon’s commitment to excellence and his positive attitude. Weatherly recalled a specific moment, back at the beginning, when he realized a special project had fallen into his lap.

Former ‘NCIS’ star Michael Weatherly remembers introducing the show at Carnegie Hall in 2003

During his interview with AssignmentX, Michael Weatherly explained how “no one could have known” how well the show would do. Sometimes, shows with the best creators and the best directors don’t make it off the ground. Yet, he remembered the day that he, Pauley Perrette, David McCallum, and Mark Harmon walked onto the Carnegie Hall stage to introduce the show in 2003, and he got a feeling of what was to come. He said: 

Mark Harmon, Pauley Perrette, David McCallum and myself, there was this moment as we walked out where, I don’t know who took who’s hands first, but the four of us held hands, sort of organically. You can’t design that stuff. And we all got to the lip of the stage and looked at each other and had this moment of connectivity.

AssignmentX

The co-stars, before the show had even gotten off the ground, were already beginning to form a bond — an intimate connection needed to keep a procedural on the air. Weatherly continued: 

The glue of the show happened with Mark Harmon from that moment stepping forward and saying his words about, we are going to give you a show that’s the best show we can deliver, and that’s our promise to you. And I think the four of us felt there was something different and really special about Mark’s attitude, and it imbued us together with a sense of, we were bound together in that moment.

AssignmentX

Back in 2003, before NCIS was the worldwide phenomenon it is today, Mark Harmon planted the seed for success. Each primary cast member walked onto the stage hand-in-hand, ready to take on the future as one…with a shared commitment to excellence.